diff --git a/.github/workflows/release_candidate.yml b/.github/workflows/release_candidate.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8f704484
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/release_candidate.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+name: Compile Release Candidate
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+
+jobs:
+  build-release-candidate:
+    if: startsWith(github.head_ref, 'release/')
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+        with:
+          submodules: recursive
+
+      - uses: actions/cache@v5
+        with:
+          path: |
+            ~/.cache/pip
+            ~/.platformio/.cache
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-pio
+
+      - uses: actions/setup-python@v6
+        with:
+          python-version: '3.14'
+
+      - name: Install PlatformIO Core
+        run: pip install --upgrade platformio
+
+      - name: Extract env
+        run: |
+          echo "SHORT_SHA=${GITHUB_SHA::6}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+          echo "BRANCH_SUFFIX=${GITHUB_REF_NAME#release/}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+
+      - name: Build CrossPoint Release Candidate
+        env:
+          CROSSPOINT_RC_HASH: ${{ env.SHORT_SHA }}
+        run: pio run -e gh_release_rc
+
+      - name: Upload Artifacts
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: CrossPoint-RC-${{ env.BRANCH_SUFFIX }}
+          path: |
+            .pio/build/gh_release_rc/bootloader.bin
+            .pio/build/gh_release_rc/firmware.bin
+            .pio/build/gh_release_rc/firmware.elf
+            .pio/build/gh_release_rc/firmware.map
+            .pio/build/gh_release_rc/partitions.bin
diff --git a/platformio.ini b/platformio.ini
index e8574470..c4b992e8 100644
--- a/platformio.ini
+++ b/platformio.ini
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 default_envs = default
 
 [crosspoint]
-version = 0.16.0
+version = 1.0.0
 
 [base]
 platform = espressif32 @ 6.12.0
@@ -60,3 +60,9 @@ extends = base
 build_flags =
   ${base.build_flags}
   -DCROSSPOINT_VERSION=\"${crosspoint.version}\"
+
+[env:gh_release_rc]
+extends = base
+build_flags =
+  ${base.build_flags}
+  -DCROSSPOINT_VERSION=\"${crosspoint.version}-rc-${sysenv.CROSSPOINT_RC_HASH}\"